The meanings of physiotherapy and exercise for people living with progressive cerebellar ataxia: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Purpose: To understand the meanings of exercise and physiotherapy for people living with a progressive cerebellar ataxia. Method: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was undertaken with twelve participants (4 women, 8 men) recruited via their membership of a national support group. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed using interpretivist methods. Results: Two main themes were constructed. Firstly, participants highly valued building collaborative and supportive long-term therapeutic relationships with expert physiotherapists, and were not necessarily looking to improve ataxia-related impairments. Secondly, self-devised exercise conferred multiple psychosocial benefits that were largely absent from physiotherapist-prescribed home exercise programmes. Conclusion: People living with ataxia recounted uniquely situated and contextualised understandings of exercise and physiotherapy that may differ significantly from the meaning of these terms to physiotherapists. Special attention should be given to patients’ perspectives in order to provide services that are meaningful and valued by people living with ataxia.